In this episode of Undrafted 2014, former Indiana State PG Jake Odum impressed pro scouts with his creativity and uncanny court vision at the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament in Portsmouth, VA. The 6-4 Odum’s play earned him a spot on the Under Armour All-Select Team.

Undrafted follows the PIT class of 2014 as they go through grueling team workouts and intense summer league games to earn a slot on an NBA roster or land a big international contract.

In this episode of Undrafted 2014, former Marquette forward Jamil Wilson impressed pro scouts with a consistent outside jumper at the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament in Portsmouth, VA. The 6-7 SF’s play earned him a

In this episode of Undrafted 2014, former Marquette forward Jamil Wilson impressed pro scouts with a consistent outside jumper at the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament in Portsmouth, VA. The 6-7 SF’s play earned him a spot on the Under Armour All-Select Team.

Undrafted follows the PIT class of 2014 as they go through grueling team workouts and intense summer league games to earn a slot on an NBA roster or land a big international contract.

In this episode of Undrafted 2014, former Georgetown guard Markel Starks shows pro scouts his ability to get into the lane and make plays for teammates at the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament in Portsmouth, VA. The

In this episode of Undrafted 2014, former Georgetown guard Markel Starks shows pro scouts his ability to get into the lane and make plays for teammates at the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament in Portsmouth, VA. The 6-2 PG’s standout play earned him a spot on the Under Armour All-Select Team.

Undrafted follows the PIT class of 2014 as they go through grueling team workouts and intense summer league games to earn a slot on an NBA roster or land a big international contract.

In the second episode of Undrafted 2014, Saint Joseph’s forward Ronald Roberts shows NBA scouts his freakish athleticism and blue-collar work ethic at the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament in Portsmouth, VA.

In the second episode of Undrafted 2014, Saint Joseph’s forward Ronald Roberts shows NBA scouts his freakish athleticism and blue-collar work ethic at the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament in Portsmouth, VA. The 6-8 big man’s standout play earned him a spot on the Under Armour All-Select Team.

Undrafted follows the PIT class of 2014 as they go through grueling team workouts and intense summer league games to earn a slot on an NBA roster or land a big international contract.

In the first episode of Undrafted 2014, Western Michigan’s F/C Shayne Whittington shows NBA scouts his nice inside-outside game at the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament in Portsmouth, VA. The 6-11 big man shot 10-22

In the first episode of Undrafted 2014, Western Michigan’s F/C Shayne Whittington shows NBA scouts his nice inside-outside game at the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament in Portsmouth, VA. The 6-11 big man shot 10-22 (45.5 percent) from long range in three games to earn him a spot on the Under Armour All-Tournament Team.

Undrafted follows the PIT class of 2014 as they go through grueling team workouts and intense summer league games to earn a slot on an NBA roster or land a big international contract. Stay tuned as we roll out more episodes this week.

For the first time, the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament (PIT) is streaming live, which means you’ll be able to watch college basketball’s top seniors go to battle. The tournament is in its final day, so don’t miss a moment—NBA scouts and GMs certainly won’t. Follow the links below to watch all the games live.

Last month, 60 players fulfilled their dream of getting drafted to the NBA. Countless others remained undrafted and will be forced to find an alternative route to the League. They will fight their way through grueling team workouts and intense summer league games for the few remaining slots on an NBA roster.

UNDRAFTED will follow the journey of six players who began their quest at the historic Portsmouth Invitational Tournament (PIT), whose alumni include Earl “The Pearl” Monroe, Dave Cowens, John Stockton, Scottie Pippen, Tim Hardaway, Derek Fisher and Jeremy Lin. The series continues with Detroit’s Nick Minnerath, who averaged 5.6 points and 1.8 rebounds per game at Vegas Summer League for the Kings.

This web series—brought to you by Pro Hoop Strength—begins with a profile and game breakdown of six players from the PIT class of 2013, as they pursue their basketball dreams. Who’s the next PIT legend?

Last month, 60 players fulfilled their dream of getting drafted to the NBA. Countless others remained undrafted and will be forced to find an alternative route to the League. They will fight their way through grueling team workouts and intense summer league games for the few remaining slots on an NBA roster.

UNDRAFTED will follow the journey of six players who began their quest at the historic Portsmouth Invitational Tournament (PIT), whose alumni include Earl “The Pearl” Monroe, Dave Cowens, John Stockton, Scottie Pippen, Tim Hardaway, Derek Fisher and Jeremy Lin. The series continues with Tennessee State’s Robert Covington, who averaged 12.4 points, 5 rebounds and 2.4 steals at Orlando Pro Summer League and recently came to terms with the Rockets.

This web series—brought to you by Pro Hoop Strength—begins with a profile and game breakdown of six players from the PIT class of 2013, as they pursue their basketball dreams. Who’s the next PIT legend?

Last month, 60 players fulfilled their dream of getting drafted to the NBA. Countless others remained undrafted and will be forced to find an alternative route to the League. They will fight their way through grueling team workouts and intense summer league games for the few remaining slots on an NBA roster.

UNDRAFTED will follow the journey of six players who began their quest at the historic Portsmouth Invitational Tournament (PIT), whose alumni include Earl “The Pearl” Monroe, Dave Cowens, John Stockton, Scottie Pippen, Tim Hardaway, Derek Fisher and Jeremy Lin. The series continues with Iowa State’s Will Clyburn, who will suit up for the Sacramento Kings in Vegas Summer League.

This web series—brought to you by Pro Hoop Strength—begins with a profile and game breakdown of six players from the PIT class of 2013, as they pursue their basketball dreams. Who’s the next PIT legend?

Last week, 60 players fulfilled their dream of getting drafted to the NBA. Countless others remained undrafted and will be forced to find an alternative route to the League. They will fight their way through grueling team workouts and intense summer league games for the few remaining slots on an NBA roster.

UNDRAFTED will follow the journey of six players who began their quest at the historic Portsmouth Invitational Tournament (PIT), whose alumni include Earl “The Pearl” Monroe, Dave Cowens, John Stockton, Scottie Pippen, Tim Hardaway, Derek Fisher and Jeremy Lin. The series continues with University of Miami’s Durand Scott, who will suit up for the San Antonio Spurs in Vegas Summer League.

This web series—brought to you by Pro Hoop Strength—begins with a profile and game breakdown of six players from the PIT class of 2013, as they pursue their basketball dreams. Who’s the next PIT legend?

Yesterday, 60 players fulfilled their dream of getting drafted to the NBA. James Ennis was one of them, but his journey is just getting started. Drafted by the Hawks with the 50th pick, Ennis was immediately traded to the Heat. He’ll suit up next month for summer league and then will have an opportunity in training camp to earn a chance to play with the Big Three.

UNDRAFTED will follow the journey of six players who began their quest at the historic Portsmouth Invitational Tournament (PIT), whose alumni include: Earl “The Pearl” Monroe, Dave Cowens, John Stockton, Scottie Pippen, Tim Hardaway, Derek Fisher and Jeremy Lin. The series kicks continues with the newest member of the Miami Heat, Ennis, from Long Beach State.

This web series—brought to you by Pro Hoop Strength—begins with a profile and game breakdown of six players from the PIT class of 2013, as they pursue their basketball dreams. Who’s the next PIT legend?

Today, 60 players will fulfill their dream of getting drafted to the NBA. Countless others will remain undrafted and will be forced to find an alternative route to the League. They will fight their way through grueling team workouts and intense summer league games for the few remaining slots on an NBA roster.

UNDRAFTED will follow the journey of six players who began their quest at the historic Portsmouth Invitational Tournament (PIT), whose alumni include: Earl “The Pearl” Monroe, Dave Cowens, John Stockton, Scottie Pippen, Tim Hardaway, Derek Fisher and Jeremy Lin. The series kicks off with Brandon Davies, the tough big from BYU.

This web series—brought to you by Pro Hoop Strength—begins with a profile and game breakdown of six players from the PIT class of 2013, as they pursue their basketball dreams. Who’s the next PIT legend?

The Portsmouth Invitational Tournament has long served as a rite of passage for the top seniors in college basketball. Sixty-four of the nation’s top seniors are selected to participate in the camp and while over the past few years many of the elite seniors elect not to play, the event boasts alum such as John Stockton, Dennis Rodman, Tim Hardaway and Scottie Pippen.

Every year, there are seniors who slide under the radar throughout their college careers or who aren’t able to show their total arsenal in their school’s offense that shock NBA brass at the PIT. Last year, local product Kyle O’Quinn made the short ride from Norfolk State over and left with the MVP trophy. He supplanted himself as a sure fire draft pick and was even in the mix in the late first round before ultimately being selected in the second round by the Orlando Magic. In a day and age where many agents are worried about “damaging a player’s stock,” the PIT gives you a throwback feel of seniors who are fighting for their livelihood to get in the League.

Here’s a look at some of the guys who stood out at the 2013 PIT:

Jamelle Hagins, 6-9, PF/C, Delaware

My personal co-MVP of the tournament, Hagins dominated the game for stretches on both ends of the court. The 6-9 athlete dunked everything around the rim, displayed a soft touch out to 15 feet, and even busted out a few left hand hook shots. Defensively was where the Delaware product really made his presence felt, though. He exhibited great timing as a shot-blocker, rebounded the ball out of his area, and really got out to defend in space in pick and roll situations. At 6-9 and 230 pounds with a 7-1 wingspan, Jamelle has the ideal size that you look for in a power forward and will certainly be right there in the second round mix when the Draft rolls around in June.

Brandon Davies, 6-10, PF, BYU

The official MVP of the PIT (along with my personal co-MVP) was Brandon Davies, who was unstoppable en route to leading his team to the title. Most college fans remember Davies’ name for breaking the Mormon code by doing what we were all doing in college, resulting in a suspension during the Jimmer-crazed BYU days. Fast forward two years and the 6-10 post might be playing with Jimmer in the League. He was outstanding passing the ball from both from double teams and from the high post, scored in a plethora of ways on the block, and rebounded the ball like a mad man. Equally as impressive was the fact that he was a vocal leader, seemed to love setting screens, and gave max effort every second he was on the hardwood. While the 2013 Draft is shaping up to be one of the craziest in recent memory, Davies did everything he possibly could to assure himself of being drafted.

Mark Lyons, 6-1, PG, Arizona

Lyons may have very well been the most exciting player at Portsmouth, exhibiting a few Russell Westbrook-esque moments while running the point. It’s not too often that you see your lead guard split a pick and roll, come down the middle, and bang right in traffic. Well, Lyons did that—twice. It was clear that he wasn’t a natural pure point guard, but he was good running the pick and roll, scored the ball at will, and exhibited a truly special level of talent en route to winning the championship. The upstate NY native needs to gain more poise as a decision maker, but the ridiculous amount of talent that he has is enough to supplant him on the NBA radar.

Carl Hall, 6-7, PF, Wichita State

There wasn’t a player who worked harder in Portsmouth than Carl Hall. Only a few days removed from taking Wichita State to the Final Four, Hall was back at it again looking to prove his worth as an NBA player. He was a monster on the offensive glass, didn’t back down defensively against bigger opponents, and converted at a high rate around the rim. What stood out even more was the effort and hustle that Carl provided, which made him seem like an absolutely ideal teammate who leads by example no matter where he’s playing next season.

James Ennis, 6-7, SF, Long Beach State

Looking like he could be a track star if he stopped playing basketball, Ennis was undoubtedly the top athlete at the PIT. The 6-7 swingman was a downright blur in transition, finished the best dunks that the camp saw, and showed some court vision that we didn’t see out of him at Long Beach State. He also showed that he can knock down the NBA three-pointer and has all of the physical tools to be a lockdown defender in the League, so don’t be surprised when you hear Ennis’ name called on Draft night.

Anthony Marshall, 6-3, PG, UNLV

The pride of sin city continued the legacy that he left at both Mojave HS and at UNLV at the PIT, where he was right there in the argument for the top lead guard in the building. At 6-3 with a filthy 6-10 wingspan, he has the ability to put the clamps on either guard position. Certainly not the fastest guy on the planet, Marshall did his damage with a change of speeds and the ability to beat you either way to the tin.

Durand Scott, 6-4, SG/PG, Miami

The best defender that the tourney had to offer, Scott straight put the clamps on any guard he was matched up with throughout the week. The NYC product left with a bang by posting 19 points, 8 dimes, and 6 steals in his final game. He displayed a blazing first step, finished well at the cup with both hands, and used his 6-9 wingspan to play bigger than he actually is. He was an adept playmaker when he had the ball in his hands, leading you to believe that he may have some combo guard potential at the next level.

Lamont “MoMo” Jones, 6-0, PG, Iona

One of NYC’s finest did not disappoint at the PIT and went out on a high note. MoMo posted 20 points, 8 assists, and just 1 turnover in his teams final game. He hit opposing point guards with a flurry of moves that resulted in him scoring 8 straight points, showing everything from a pull-up, to creative finishes with his left hand, to runners in the lane. Jones’ sturdy frame allowed defenders to bounce off of him like a ping pong ball when he was going to the rack. Everyone always knew that the nation’s third leading scorer could get buckets on anyone, but Portsmouth gave him the chance to show scouts what he could do as a playmaker.

DJ Cooper, 5-11, PG, Ohio University

The other half of Norfolk Sports Club’s outstanding point guard duo was DJ Cooper. The MAC Player of The Year has been a name amongst mid-major circles for years now and his play backed up the rep that many in the midwest have thrown out there for years. He pumped out a near perfect final game with a statline of 20 points, 10 dimes and 8 boards without committing single turnover. Cooper shot the NBA three effortlessly and while he’s going to have to prove that he isn’t too small to play in the League during workouts, Cooper exhibited the type of playmaking skills in the final day that you can only dream for out of a lead guard.

Kyle Barone, 6-10, C, Idaho

The WAC Player of The Year came into Portsmouth as a guy who few outside of the west coast and left an intriguing prospect. At 6-10, he shoot it out to 15 feet, provides presence in the interior as a shot-blocker, and looked to bang absolutely everything that he got in the paint. Coordinated bigs like Barone don’t exactly come a dime a dozen, so he should have no problem landing a number of NBA workouts leading up to the Draft.

What do Earl “The Pearl” Monroe, John Stockton, Scottie Pippen and Jeremy Lin have in common? They were all discovered at the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament (PIT).

The PIT is basketball’s oldest scouting combine. For the last 60 years, NBA scouts flock to Portsmouth, VA, in search of that hidden gem who might change the fate of their franchise. For the 64 college ballers who get invited, it is their only shot to play in front of scouts from every NBA team and top international scouts. They get one shot.

UNDRAFTED, a SLAMonline exclusive 10-part web series, tells the story of the PIT and takes a close look at selected members of the 2012 class. Who’s the next PIT legend?

What do Earl “The Pearl” Monroe, John Stockton, Scottie Pippen and Jeremy Lin have in common? They were all discovered at the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament (PIT).

The PIT is basketball’s oldest scouting combine. For the last 60 years, NBA scouts flock to Portsmouth, VA, in search of that hidden gem who might change the fate of their franchise. For the 64 college ballers who get invited, it is their only shot to play in front of scouts from every NBA team and top international scouts. They get one shot.

UNDRAFTED, a SLAMonline exclusive 10-part web series, tells the story of the PIT and takes a close look at selected members of the 2012 class. Who’s the next PIT legend?

What do Earl “The Pearl” Monroe, John Stockton, Scottie Pippen and Jeremy Lin have in common? They were all discovered at the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament (PIT).

The PIT is basketball’s oldest scouting combine. For the last 60 years, NBA scouts flock to Portsmouth, VA, in search of that hidden gem who might change the fate of their franchise. For the 64 college ballers who get invited, it is their only shot to play in front of scouts from every NBA team and top international scouts. They get one shot.

UNDRAFTED, a SLAMonline exclusive 10-part web series, tells the story of the PIT and takes a close look at selected members of the 2012 class. Who’s the next PIT legend?

What do Earl “The Pearl” Monroe, John Stockton, Scottie Pippen and Jeremy Lin have in common? They were all discovered at the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament (PIT).

The PIT is basketball’s oldest scouting combine. For the last 60 years, NBA scouts flock to Portsmouth, VA, in search of that hidden gem who might change the fate of their franchise. For the 64 college ballers who get invited, it is their only shot to play in front of scouts from every NBA team and top international scouts. They get one shot.

UNDRAFTED, a SLAMonline exclusive 10-part web series, tells the story of the PIT and takes a close look at selected members of the 2012 class. Who’s the next PIT legend?

What do Earl “The Pearl” Monroe, John Stockton, Scottie Pippen and Jeremy Lin have in common? They were all discovered at the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament (PIT).

The PIT is basketball’s oldest scouting combine. For the last 60 years, NBA scouts flock to Portsmouth, VA, in search of that hidden gem who might change the fate of their franchise. For the 64 college ballers who get invited, it is their only shot to play in front of scouts from every NBA team and top international scouts. They get one shot.

UNDRAFTED, a SLAMonline exclusive 10-part web series, tells the story of the PIT and takes a close look at selected members of the 2012 class. Who’s the next PIT legend?

What do Earl “The Pearl” Monroe, John Stockton, Scottie Pippen and Jeremy Lin have in common? They were all discovered at the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament (PIT).

The PIT is basketball’s oldest scouting combine. For the last 60 years, NBA scouts flock to Portsmouth, VA, in search of that hidden gem who might change the fate of their franchise. For the 64 college ballers who get invited, it is their only shot to play in front of scouts from every NBA team and top international scouts. They get one shot.

UNDRAFTED, a SLAMonline exclusive 10-part web series, tells the story of the PIT and takes a close look at selected members of the 2012 class. Who’s the next PIT legend?

What do Earl “The Pearl” Monroe, John Stockton, Scottie Pippen and Jeremy Lin have in common? They were all discovered at the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament (PIT).

The PIT is basketball’s oldest scouting combine. For the last 60 years, NBA scouts flock to Portsmouth, VA, in search of that hidden gem who might change the fate of their franchise. For the 64 college ballers who get invited, it is their only shot to play in front of scouts from every NBA team and top international scouts. They get one shot.

UNDRAFTED, a SLAMonline exclusive 10-part web series, tells the story of the PIT and takes a close look at selected members of the 2012 class. Who’s the next PIT legend?

What do Earl “The Pearl” Monroe, John Stockton, Scottie Pippen and Jeremy Lin have in common? They were all discovered at the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament (PIT).

The PIT is basketball’s oldest scouting combine. For the last 60 years, NBA scouts flock to Portsmouth, VA, in search of that hidden gem who might change the fate of their franchise. For the 64 college ballers who get invited, it is their only shot to play in front of scouts from every NBA team and top international scouts. They get one shot.

UNDRAFTED, a SLAMonline exclusive 10-part web series, tells the story of the PIT and takes a close look at selected members of the 2012 class. Who’s the next PIT legend?

What do Earl “The Pearl” Monroe, John Stockton, Scottie Pippen and Jeremy Lin have in common? They were all discovered at the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament (PIT).

The PIT is basketball’s oldest scouting combine. For the last 60 years, NBA scouts flock to Portsmouth, VA, in search of that hidden gem who might change the fate of their franchise. For the 64 college ballers who get invited, it is their only shot to play in front of scouts from every NBA team and top international scouts. They get one shot.

UNDRAFTED, a SLAMonline exclusive 10-part web series, tells the story of the PIT and takes a close look at selected members of the 2012 class. Who’s the next PIT legend?

What do Earl “The Pearl” Monroe, John Stockton, Scottie Pippen and Jeremy Lin have in common? They were all discovered at the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament (PIT).

The PIT is basketball’s oldest scouting combine. For the last 60 years, NBA scouts flock to Portsmouth, VA, in search of that hidden gem who might change the fate of their franchise. For the 64 college ballers who get invited, it is their only shot to play in front of scouts from every NBA team and top international scouts. They get one shot.

UNDRAFTED, a SLAMonline exclusive 10-part web series, tells the story of the PIT and takes a close look at selected members of the 2012 class. Who’s the next PIT legend?

Landry Fields isn’t your typical collegiate basketball player with NBA aspirations. First of all, he went to Stanford — and is on track to graduate. During a time in which most high-level college players leave school early to turn pro, it’s refreshing to see someone like Fields to use all four years of his eligibility to realize his potential.

Fields became an All-Pac-10 First Team selection after averaging a conference-high 22.0 points and 8.8 rebounds per game. So the Long Beach native realized his development enough to turn himself into a NBA prospect. After working out at the Portsmouth Invitational in April, he has his sights set on an invite to the upcoming NBA Pre-Draft camp in Chicago. Players are selected by NBA personnel and Fields’ agent,
Chris Emens, thinks Fields deserves a shot at the camp based on his body of work.

While Fields waits to hear about Chicago and his prospects for the NBA Draft in June, SLAMonline spoke to Fields about his collegiate career, coaching aspirations and Draft preparation.

SLAM: Your parents played collegiate basketball. What kind of advice did they have during your career?Landry Fields: In terms of basketball, not too much. They’re the kind of parents that like to watch from a distance. They might point out some things here and there. They trusted me with other people, like coaches, throughout my life and they trusted that I would learn the game on my own and pick it up as I go along.

SLAM: Since you grew up in L.A., did you have aspirations to play for USC or UCLA or did you always have Stanford in mind?LF: Growing up, I was a UCLA fan. At one point, I wanted to go there. But when I got to high school, I was trying to get a scholarship anywhere. Stanford just came along and it was the right fit for me.

SLAM: Do you talk to ex-Stanford players who are in the NBA?LF: I talk to the Lopez twins here and there but other than that, not really.

SLAM: Do they have any advice for you for Draft preparation?LF: Yeah, just to take it day-by-day. The off-season is kind of a grueling schedule and to continue to work hard and play as hard as I can every day.

SLAM: Where are you right now?LF: I’m in L.A. working out.

SLAM: Okay, so what are you doing to prepare for the Draft?LF: I’m working out at the Home Depot Center. I work with Athlete’s Performance for strength and conditioning and agility stuff. That’s four days per week, starting at 8 a.m. and that goes until about 10. At 10:30, I do all the court stuff, skill-work and movement, with my trainer, Miles Simon, who played at Arizona. That session lasts about two hours. Then I come back in the afternoon for some shooting and call it a day. Then I wake up and do the same thing the next day.

SLAM: Is there anything in particular you’re working on this week?LF: It changes each day. One day it can be a lot of ball handling, the next it can be shooting form, movements like screening and sometimes playing with guys who come to work out. So, it’s a plethora of different stuff.

SLAM: Have you talked to any NBA teams so far?LF: At Portsmouth, there were some informal interviews with people. Nothing too serious yet. That’s kind of all in the works, trying to figure out schedules and workouts.

SLAM: What part of your game do you need to improve the most?LF: I think knocking down a consistent jumper. At times, my shot can get a little flat but when I get it up, I’m a pretty decent shooter. So just a consistent jumper and knocking it down. And continue to stay low in ball handling. Obviously, my conditioning and agility because that will be key when it comes to traveling and working out for teams.

SLAM: Do you see yourself as a shooting guard or a small forward in the NBA?LF: I see myself as a small forward.

SLAM: If a team asks you what you can do to help them, what are you going to say?LF: Well, that can depend on the team. If I knew I was going to go on an interview with somebody, I’d probably take a closer look at a team and get a feel for what they like to do. I’d tell them how I can contribute in their system and even outside of the system, I’m the type of player willing to do anything for a team. Whatever you want me to do, I’ll do that. Whatever they ask of me, I’ll do that plus take it to the next level. It’s the kind of player I am and the kind of character I have.

SLAM: When you watch NBA games, do you see yourself in a certain uniform or on a certain team?LF: I know that I can play in the League. Right now, it’s just doing what I can to get there and worry about all that stuff afterward.

SLAM: The Pac-10 has produced a lot of NBA talent the last several years. What is it about that league that prepares guys for the NBA?LF: I don’t think it’s too much different from any other conference. It’s more of a grind-it-down type of conference meaning that refs let us play. There aren’t many teams that are like ‘push it and run’ so there are slow-it-down offenses. This year, everybody says it was down and stuff, but I still think this year was a pretty good year for a lot of teams. That’s my opinion; other people think otherwise.

SLAM: So you’re of the mindset that this past season was as competitive as the previous two or three seasons?LF: Maybe not previous years. I know that when you lose as much talent as the Pac-10 has to the NBA, you’re left with guys with less experience; therefore, you get the kind of year the Pac-10 had. But within that situation we had to play in, I feel like it was pretty competitive. Cal and Washington did pretty well in the NCAA Tournament. I think it’s still a good conference.

SLAM: Who was your toughest cover in the Pac-10?LF: I’d say probably Theo Robertson. He’s a tough play. To me, he can do it all which I think almost goes unnoticed. I think he was one of the harder covers for me.

SLAM: Who gave you the toughest time when you were on offense?LF: Probably Justin Holiday at Washington. He’s real long and pretty scrappy. And the kind of style that they play on defense, it allows him to gamble. He’s always kind of in you and you have to be sharp with the ball and sharp with your moves if you want to get past him.

SLAM: What was the toughest Pac-10 arena to play in this past season?LF: This year, Washington was pretty hard. They were better this year than they usually have been. I’d say Oregon but they didn’t quite have the year they usually do.

SLAM: Being from Stanford, do you tend to get an earful of jokes making fun of your intelligence?LF: [Laughs] Yeah, if I mess up on one little thing, I get the ‘Ohhh, Stanford, huh?’, stuff like that. But not anything too dramatic or harsh. It’s all in good fun.

SLAM: What’s tougher — studying for finals or competing in the Pac-10 Tournament?LF: [Laughs] At Stanford, you have different majors that are harder than others. To me, preparing for the tourney was more draining than having to study for finals. School came pretty easy to me.

SLAM: What advice would you give to fellow student-athletes who struggle with time management of academics and athletics?LF: At Stanford, we had all the help we wanted. When you get to college, especially like Stanford, where academics are as important as basketball, the rigors that it has means you have to make sacrifices on what you do. If you’re struggling, get all the help you can. There are tons of tutors at every campus. You have to put in the time. There’s no easy way of doing it, so that’s the way to go about it.

SLAM: I read you’re interested in coaching and want to pursue that after your playing career. What is it about it that interests you?LF: Well, actually working out in L.A. and being around some past coaches and talking about, it’s actually a lot more work than I thought. I’d still like to coach at one point but the work definitely doesn’t appeal to me that much; I heard it’s a 24/7 type of deal. But just the chance to work with young players and watch them grow. Eventually, you get to see their development and where they end up, that’s what’s appealing to me. Even seeing people from L.A. and where they end up, like Russell Westbrook. Watching him since high school and to see where he’s at now, that’s something that it’s pleasurable to me to see that. If I can do something like that coaching, that’d be great.

SLAM: Is it the game planning or the scouting that takes up so much time?LF: Yeah, it’s the scouting. I know based off this year, whichever scout had the coach for that week, he always more tense and under pressure than the other coaches. You see where the nerves come in and that they get frustrated. So that might not be appealing, but it’s something you got to do if you want to win.

SLAM: In what ways did [Stanford basketball coach] Johnny Dawkins help you?LF: He’s great on player development. I couldn’t even tell you how much I’ve learned from him in the past two years. His experience, the player he was in college, being able to play in the NBA, the people he’s coached and worked with, they’ve had a great influence on him as a coach. He’s translated that into how he coaches us. It’s unfortunate I had only one year with him; if I’d have had more, that’d have been great. He’s one of the most competitive guys I’ve ever met and one of the smartest basketball minds I’ve been around. Just taking away those things from him has been a huge help for me.

SLAM: Any other coaches who’ve had a big influence on you?LF: When I was younger, my AAU coach, A.C. Diaz, is the one who got me serious about the competitive nature of basketball. My high school coach, Russell May. Dawkins reminded me of him, just in his competitive nature and basketball mind. I’ve been blessed to have both coaches. And my old Stanford coach Trent Johnson, before he left [for LSU], just some of the intangibles that he talked to his players about how to approach the game was also a big help.

SLAM: Does your interest in coaching mean you see yourself as a coach on the floor?LF: With more experience, definitely on the floor. If I had gain more experience playing and observing coaches more, that can translate into my own coaching style and the way I interact with players.

SLAM: Was there a part of the game you were known for helping your teammates with the most?LF: Coach Dawkins and his staff did great with the basketball aspect. I never had to do too much coaching on the side. With me, it was more of an approach to the game and how at times, it can be frustrating out there. You have academic pressure on you as well, so I was trying to be there as a motivator and somebody who my teammates could talk to when they needed help. Being a senior, I had been through it all.

SLAM: Has your perception of what it means to be an NBA player changed as you’ve come closer to becoming one?LF: Definitely. The amount of time and work you have to put in is kind of unfathomable until you actually go through it. I thought I was working hard in college but now, doing this thing every day, it’s almost like a 9-to-5 job. A job that’s fun but the kind of effort you have to put into it and just growing with your game, the physical game and mentally. You have to be a ‘next play’ kind of guy. You have to have short-term memory in terms of mistakes on the court. It’s definitely changed over the years but I think I’m getting a good grasp of it now.

SLAM: What part of your game are you most confident about right now?LF: I think my ability to create for myself. It’s something I had to do a lot this year. Also, just intangibles, playing hard, having that will to win. I like where my game is at right now. I think I do everything pretty well.

SLAM: You have your Draft Day suit picked out, maybe a Stanford Cardinal-red tie?LF: [Laughs] If I make it to the Green Room, I’ll go with something nice. We’ll see, I haven’t picked it out yet.

SLAM: Do you have any Draft Day plans if you’re not in New York City for the event?LF: Not yet. I’m waiting until it gets closer and I have a better idea of what’s going to happen so that I can plan accordingly. I’m not trying to jump the gun on anything [laughs].

SLAM: Are you going to get your degree in Communications?LF: Yeah, I’ll graduate in June.

SLAM: What does that mean to you, to be able to complete school which is something that not a lot of student-athletes in certain sports can say?LF: It’s great to me. Being able to pursue my hoop dreams and have a degree to back me is something I’ve always dreamed of. Especially to have a degree from Stanford to fall back on. It’s been great. Having to work all those summers in summer school was hard but now it’s paying off, so I’m glad I did it. It’s been good for me.